About me

Introduction
Hi, I’m Cherie! With over a decade of experience in mobile ecommerce, I blend the technical precision of a Master’s in Human Factors and Ergonomics with the intuitive eye of a digital artist. My background in hospitality taught me that great UX should feel personal, not just functional; I design for that "magic" where clarity meets soul. By leveraging AI to handle the mechanical heavy lifting, I carve out more space for the thoughtful, "a little bit extra" details that bring a product to life. Whether playing with new design tools, running my Etsy shop, or drawing something self-indulgent, I’m driven by curiosity and dedication to bringing something to life.
Work Experience
Download Resume
Principal UX Designer
Gap Inc.
June 2017 – May 2024
- Led mobile UX across Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta, balancing brand-specific identity within a shared commerce platform serving millions of users.
- Owned end-to-end design of critical shopping flows including homepage, search, product discovery, PDP, checkout, and account management, shaping how customers browse and purchase across the mobile apps.
- Designed and launched high-impact commerce features including autocomplete search suggestions, PLP color swatches, Favorites, Buy It Again, dynamic homepage templates, and self-service order cancellation tools.
- Partnered with product managers, engineers, researchers, and data analysts to validate design hypotheses, align product direction, and present UX rationale to senior leadership.
- Led mobile and web parity initiatives, aligning interaction patterns and design systems across key discovery surfaces such as homepage and category browsing.
- Collaborated with brand stakeholders to translate Banana Republic and Athleta visual redesign systems into scalable mobile UI patterns implemented in production.
- Championed accessibility improvements across the app, driving progress toward WCAG AA/AAA standards through improved contrast, tap targets, and typography legibility.
- Maintained and evolved the Figma component library and design system, improving team workflows and ensuring consistency during periods of team transition.
- Mentored junior designers through design critiques, coaching, and collaborative design sessions, raising craft quality across the team.
- Explored future product opportunities through proof-of-concept work, including in-store “Store Mode,” barcode scanning workflows, AR integrations, and influencer-driven content modules.
- Partnered closely with engineering during development to review implementations, document UI issues, and ensure design fidelity through QA.
- Successfully delivered projects through multiple organizational restructures and shifting brand priorities while maintaining product quality and velocity.
UX Consultant
Freelance + ChefsFeed
July 2016 – May 2017
- Partnered with startups and small teams to improve product usability through UX audits, interaction design, usability testing, and design documentation.
- Delivered low- to high-fidelity mockups, clarified user flows, and provided research-driven recommendations to improve product clarity and engagement.
- As a consultant for ChefsFeed, evaluated the web platform and redesigned key areas of the information architecture and layout to improve content discovery and user flow.
Lead UX Designer
MoneyGram International
June 2015 – April 2016
- Introduced Lean UX practices and led design of a mobile proof-of-concept for staged cash transfers, supporting early product validation.
- Conducted user research, validation testing, and high-fidelity design across new product development initiatives.
- Redesigned the point-of-sale (POS) system, improving workflows through close collaboration with product teams and end users.
Interaction Designer + Visual Design Intern
GoPro
June 2014 – June 2015
- Defined interaction specifications for GoPro camera UI, collaborating with firmware and QA teams to ensure behavior matched design intent.
- Conducted usability testing, produced prototypes, and created internal visual assets supporting product development.
Usability & Ethnographic Research Intern
UEGroup
March 2013 – June 2013
Designed and executed usability tests and ethnographic interviews, synthesizing findings into research reports that informed client product decisions.
Education
MS Human Factors and Ergonomics
San Jose State University
2011 - 2014
Relevant coursework: HCI, IXD, Usability Testing, Experiment Design, Psychology, Advanced Statistics, Physiology and Ergonomics.
BS Hospitality Business Management
San Jose State University
2007-2011
Focused on Event Planning
Studied abroad in Scotland for a year at Napier University.
Technical Skills & Tools
Design
Product Design
Interaction Design
Design Systems
Mobile UX
Ecommerce UX
Mobile App
Research
Usability Testing
Competitive Analysis
A/B Testing
Behavioral Insights
Tools
Figma
Capcut
Procreate
Clip Studio Paint
Notion
Collaboration
Cross-Functional Leadership
Stakeholder Alignment
Agile Methodologies
Lean UX
Technical Exploration
React Web Apps (AI-assisted development)
HTML/CSS Fundamental
Python scripting
AutoHotKey automation
Accessibility
WCAG Compliance
Inclusive Design Practices
Other
Digital Illustration
Native Japanese
Video Editing
Twitch Streaming